Abstract. The nasal decongestant oxymetazoline (OMZ) exhibits anti-oxidative and antiinflammatory properties (I. Beck-Speier et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2006;316:842-851). In a follow up study, we hypothesized that OMZ generates pro-resolving lipoxins being paralleled by production of immune-modulating prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) and anti-inflammatory 15(S)-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid [15(S)-HETE] and depletion of pro-inflammatory leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ). Human neutrophils (PMN) were chosen as the cellular system. The effect of OMZ on these parameters as well as on respiratory burst activity and oxidative stress marker 8-isprostane was analyzed in unstimulated and co-stimulated PMN by ultrafine carbon particles (UCP) or opsonized zymosan (OZ), respectively. In unstimulated cells, OMZ induced formation of PGE 2 , 15(S)-HETE, and LXA 4 . The levels of LTB 4 and 8-isoprostane were not affected, whereas respiratory burst activity was drastically inhibited. In UCP-and OZ-stimulated control cells, all parameters were elevated. Here, OMZ maintained the increased levels of PGE 2 , 15(S)-HETE, and LXA 4 , but substantially suppressed levels of LTB 4 and 8-isoprostane and inhibited the respiratory burst activity. These findings suggest a switch from the pro-inflammatory eicosanoid class LTB 4 to the pro-resolving LXA 4 . Since LXA 4 is most relevant in returning inflamed tissue to homeostasis, OMZ is postulated to terminate rhinitis-related inflammation, thus contributing to shortening of disease duration.